At the left is a schematic diagram of the bhima of a synagogue, drawn to include the many aspects of synagogue life.

You can click on the diagram to read explanations of the people and objects, and their meaning for Jewish communal life.

The Ark (Aron HaKodesh)

The Ark is what makes any building a synagogue. The Ark contains at least one Torah scroll, a handwritten scroll containing the Five Books of Moses, known by Christians as the first five books of the Old Testament.

The Ark is a reminder of the Ark the Israelites carried through the wilderness, which contained the two tablets of stone given to Moses by God.

Whenever the ark is opened, the congregation stands. The congregation prays facing the ark; the ark faces Jerusalem. Thus, all Jews face Jerusalem when they pray. For Jews, Jerusalem is the spiritual centre of the universe.

Often, other objects are stored in the Ark. These might include scrolls of the Book of Esther, a shofar (the ram's horn blown on Rosh Hashanah) and a Havdalah candle and spice box (used in the ceremony to mark the end of Shabbat)

Ner Tamid (eternal light hanging above the ark)

An Eternal Light (Ner Tamid) hangs above the ark in every synagogue. It is a symbol of the everlasting agreement (Covenant) between God and the Jewish people. It also reminds Jewish people that God is always with them.

Where once the Ner Tamid was an oil lamp, today most are fuelled by either gas or electricity. They are never turned off.

Religious School and Jewish Learning

Most synagogues have a religion school. Jewish people are commanded by God to teach their children Torah. In religion school, children are taught to read Hebrew, interpret the Torah and to learn about the traditions of Judaism. In many Jewish religion schools, there is a long-held tradition that when young children begin their studies, their teacher puts honey on their schoolbook, which they then lick off. This tradition helps children to appreciate the sweetness of learning. Most Jewish children attend religion school either after regular school or on Sundays and weekday afternoons, although, some children attend all day, learning about Torah and all the other curriculum subjects.

Every Jewish person is expected to study the Torah. It is considered to be a special form of worship. Jewish adults often study in pairs. In this way they can share their ideas and give each other encouragement.

Meeting Rooms

One of the Hebrew terms for a synagogue is Beit Knesset which means "House of Meeting." While Jewish people meet at the synagogue to study Torah and to pray, it is also the venue for many other meetings. When there is an important issue to be discussed, a fund-raising event to be planned or held, a happy event to be celebrated or a reason to mourn, people will often gather in the synagogue. The synagogue is the hub of Jewish life.

Rabbi

"Rabbi" means "teacher" and, through preaching from the pulpit, teaching classes, and working with individuals, teaching is the primary job of a rabbi. In addition, many rabbis speak on behalf of their communities, help to organize all the different activities at the synagogue, make important decisions about Jewish law, and conduct prayer services, weddings, and funerals. To train as a rabbi takes many years of difficult study.

Cantor (Chazan)

Traditionally, a Jewish prayer service is sung or chanted. Prayers are led by the cantor. Sometimes, everyone joins in and, other times, the cantor chants the prayer and worshipers respond by saying, “Amen”. Many cantors are highly trained musicians who know a great deal about Torah and Jewish traditions. For this reason, many cantors also teach and conduct weddings, funerals, etc.

Gabbaim

Whenever the Torah is read publicly, two people stand on either side of the reading table. These people are called the Gabba’im. Their jobs include: undressing the Torah, calling those who bless the Torah forward from the congregation, saying special blessings, correcting any mistakes made by the reader, and making sure that at all times during the Torah service, the Torah is treated with the utmost respect.

Ba’al Koreh (Torah reader)

The Ba’al Koreh is the Torah reader. Anyone who is at least 13 years old and can chant the words of the Torah properly can become a Ba’al Koreh. Some congregations employ a professional Ba’al Koreh, but many others use their own members.

Tallit (prayer shawl)

The prayer shawl is worn for morning prayers, in fulfilment of a commandment from God. It is a highly symbolic piece of clothing. The fringes of the tallit remind Jewish people of all the commandments. A series of knots on the fringes spell out the words, ‘God is One’

Kippah (head covering, also called a kippah or yarmulke)

In most synagogues, men are expected to wear a head covering called, in Hebrew, kippah, or in Yiddish, yarmulke. The kippah reminds Jewish people that God is ‘above’ them, and, therefore, they must obey God.

Books (Siddur and Chumash)

Two books are used by the congregation in a synagogue service. These are the siddur and the chumash. The siddur (prayer book) contains the words of all the prayers in the service. The chumash, on the other hand, is a printed version of the Torah that usually includes a translation and commentary, as well.

Congregation (minyan)

Judaism is not a religion of the individual. It is both family-centred and community-based. Jewish people can pray on their own, but in order to hold a complete prayer service, a group of at least ten adults is required. As well as coming together to pray, Jewish people are also encouraged to meet together to study, to celebrate and to mourn. In this way, it is hoped that the community will remain strong and no one will feel left out.